Toppman on the Arts

Local arts criticism — from touring Broadway shows to community theater and museum exhibits — from longtime critic Lawrence Toppman

Toppman on the Arts

May 11, 2026

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3 min read

Oedipus in the barrio

Three Bone Theatre's “Oedipus el Rey” runs through May 24 at the Arts Factory, 1545 W. Trade St.

Toppman on the Arts

Shattered expectations at Charlotte Ballet

May 8, 2026

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3 min read

Shattered expectations at Charlotte Ballet

“One Thousand Pieces” runs this weekend only at Knight Theater, 430 S. Tryon St.

Toppman on the Arts

May 4, 2026

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4 min read

A tipsy twist on science

The next "Science on the Rocks" is on May 15 at Discovery Place, 168 W. Sixth St.

Toppman on the Arts

Apr 30, 2026

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4 min read

Caravaggio goes for Baroque

The “Caravaggio/Revolution" exhibit runs through Oct. 25 at The Mint Museum, 500 S. Tryon St.

Toppman on the Arts

Apr 27, 2026

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3 min read

Ankhs for the memories

‘Horizon of Khufu’ immersive VR experience runs through Aug. 30 at Blume Studios, 904 Post St.

Toppman on the Arts

‘Stereophonic’ finds gold in a drawn-out studio grind

Apr 16, 2026

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3 min read

‘Stereophonic’ finds gold in a drawn-out studio grind

This show runs through April 26 at Knight Theater, 430 S. Tryon St.

Toppman on the Arts

Apr 13, 2026

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6 min read

When the facts don't matter

'The Lifespan of a Fact' runs through April 26 at Armour Street Theatre in Davidson

Toppman on the Arts

Mar 11, 2026

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7 min read

The suffragists still demand a hearing

'Suffs' runs through Sunday at Belk Theater, 130 N. Tryon St.

Toppman on the Arts

Mar 3, 2026

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7 min read

Hope travels fast in 'Esperanza Rising'

'Esperanza Rising' runs at Children’s Theatre of Charlotte in ImaginOn, 300 E. Seventh St., through March 15

Toppman on the Arts

Feb 25, 2026

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8 min read

The King of Pop never stood still

'MJ The Musical' runs through March 1 at Belk Theater, 130 N Tryon St.

Toppman on the Arts

Two dances, infinite reach in Charlotte Ballet’s ‘Boundless’

Feb 23, 2026

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8 min read

Two dances, infinite reach in Charlotte Ballet’s ‘Boundless’

Charlotte Ballet's "Winter Works: Boundless" runs through March 21 at McBride-Bonnefoux Center for Dance, 701 N. Tryon St.

Toppman on the Arts

'The Flick' goes off-stage and out of earshot

Feb 16, 2026

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6 min read

'The Flick' goes off-stage and out of earshot

The play runs through Saturday (Feb. 21) at Independent Picture House, 4237 Raleigh St.

Toppman on the Arts

‘Primary Trust’ banks on subtlety — and cashes in

Feb 10, 2026

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6 min read

‘Primary Trust’ banks on subtlety — and cashes in

‘Primary Trust’ runs through Feb. 22 at Three Bone Theater, 1545 W. Trade St.

Toppman on the Arts

Brotherhood, bruises and a rumble worth hearing

Feb 4, 2026

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7 min read

Brotherhood, bruises and a rumble worth hearing

'The Outsiders' runs through Feb. 8 at Belk Theater, 130 N Tryon St.

Toppman on the Arts

Jan 27, 2026

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7 min read

Ready for lift off

"Above and Beyond" runs through April 19 at Discovery Place, 168 W. Sixth St.

Toppman on the Arts

Jan 21, 2026

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7 min read

'Spamalot' rides again

The show runs through Tuesday (Jan. 27) at Belk Theater, 130 N. Tryon St.

Toppman on the Arts

Jan 13, 2026

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7 min read

A quiet, patient kind of rebellion

‘Renaissance, Romanticism and Rebellion’ runs through Feb. 22 at the Mint Museum Uptown, 500 S. Tryon St.

Toppman on the Arts

When machines dazzle, menace — and maybe outgrow us

Jan 6, 2026

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7 min read

When machines dazzle, menace — and maybe outgrow us

"Assembly Lines" runs through Feb. 2 at the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, 420 S. Tryon St.

Toppman on the Arts

Three Gantt Center exhibits that stir the soul and settle the mind

Dec 19, 2025

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8 min read

Three Gantt Center exhibits that stir the soul and settle the mind

The exhibitions run into 2026 at the Gantt Center, 551 S. Tryon St.

Toppman on the Arts

The snow day Charlotte misses (and can finally have)

Dec 16, 2025

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7 min read

The snow day Charlotte misses (and can finally have)

"Snow Days" runs through Feb. 1 at Discovery Place, 301 N. Tryon St.

Toppman on the Arts

Dec 8, 2025

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7 min read

A Christmas Carol gone rogue — or rouge

'Scrooge in Rouge' runs through Dec. 20 at Warehouse PAC, 9216 Westmoreland Road

Toppman on the Arts

‘The Magicians Table’ has a few tricks up its sleeve

Nov 28, 2025

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7 min read

‘The Magicians Table’ has a few tricks up its sleeve

The magic show runs through Feb. 15 at Blume Studios, 904 Post St.

Toppman on the Arts

Nov 19, 2025

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7 min read

The hills are alive more than ever

'The Sound of Music' runs through Nov. 23 at Belk Theater, 130 N. Tryon St.

Toppman on the Arts

Nov 11, 2025

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7 min read

Battle lines are drawn in 'Eureka Day'

'Eureka Day' runs through Nov. 23 at The Arts Factory, 1545 W. Trade St.

Toppman on the Arts

Charlotte hides in plain sight in 'Christy'

Nov 7, 2025

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6 min read

Charlotte hides in plain sight in 'Christy'

'Christy,' filmed mostly in Charlotte, is now playing in theaters everywhere

Toppman on the Arts

Oedipus in the barrio

Shattered expectations at Charlotte Ballet

A tipsy twist on science

Caravaggio goes for Baroque

Ankhs for the memories

‘Stereophonic’ finds gold in a drawn-out studio grind

When the facts don't matter

The suffragists still demand a hearing

Hope travels fast in 'Esperanza Rising'

The King of Pop never stood still

Two dances, infinite reach in Charlotte Ballet’s ‘Boundless’

'The Flick' goes off-stage and out of earshot

‘Primary Trust’ banks on subtlety — and cashes in

Brotherhood, bruises and a rumble worth hearing

Ready for lift off

'Spamalot' rides again

A quiet, patient kind of rebellion

When machines dazzle, menace — and maybe outgrow us

Three Gantt Center exhibits that stir the soul and settle the mind

The snow day Charlotte misses (and can finally have)

A Christmas Carol gone rogue — or rouge

‘The Magicians Table’ has a few tricks up its sleeve

The hills are alive more than ever

Battle lines are drawn in 'Eureka Day'

Charlotte hides in plain sight in 'Christy'

The Charlotte Ledger